Filling knife loom-stop attachment



June 5, 1956 c. LOVELY 2,748,808

FILLING KNIFE LOOM-STOP ATTACHMENT Filed March 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Shee 1 INVENTOR 7- 3 //OBE/PT CLomsLy June 5, 1956 c. LOVELY 2,748,808

FILLING KNIFE LOOM-STOP ATTACHMENT Filed March 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6'.

32 #05627 CJLOVELY INVENTOR BY ATTNEY 2 Unite This invention relates to a loom stop attachment, and, more particularly, to such a device adapted to be attached to the filling knife or thread cutter and clamp of an automatic textile loom.

Textile looms are usually equipped with a transfer mechanism for automatically extracting an empty bobbin from the shuttle and replacing it with a filled bobbin without interruption of the weaving operation. Most looms of this type are equipped with what is known in the industry as a filling knife (also known as a thread cutter and clamp), which during the operation of the transfer. mechanism is adapted to advance toward the shuttle, sever the filling end from the bobbin being discarded and hold the severed filling end in its grip as it returns to its retarded. position to await the next bobbin transfer. Thus, when finally cut at the selvage, the end falls away from all moving parts that might whip it into the cloth. The purpose of this operation is to cut and hold the discarded end to prevent the operation of the loom mechanism from pulling it into the warp and causing a defect in the cloth. Failure of the filling knife to properly operate during the transfer operation results in loss of production as the defects are picked out of the cloth, and reduces the quality of the goods produced.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide loom stop means which will stop the operation of. the loom if for any reason the filling knife fails to function in its proper manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide loom stop means operable to stop the loom if the filling knife fails to catch. the end of the filling on a bobbin change.

Another object of the invention is to provide loom stop means operable to stop the loom if the filling knife after catching the severed filling end releases it for any reason during or after the bobbin change prior to transfer of a full bobbin, or if the filling end is pulled from the knife between changes. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide loom stop means operable to stop the loom if the filling knife catches and holds the filling end too near the end of the knife blades to continue to safely hold it there until another bobbin change is needed.

Another object of the invention is to provide loom stop means operable to stop the loom on false changes, or if for any reason the filling knife is opened at the wrong point in the cycle of operations.

These and other objects and advantages, which will become more fully apparent as the ensuing description proceeds, are accomplished by this invention which comprises, in general, an electrical contact element in combination with the clamping element of the filling knife so disposed as to complete an electrical circuit to suitable loom stop mechanism when the knife fails to properly grip and hold the filling end or otherwise fails to properly operate.

In the drawings, in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a filling knife for a loom incorporating the electrical contact element of this invention and showing the knife in closed position clamping a severed filling end.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the filling knife shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the filling knife of Figs. 1 and 2 but showing the knife in open position just prior to cutting and clamping a filling end.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4- of Fig. 2.

Patent 9 Patented dune 5, 395% Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken longitudinally through the outer insulating element of the movable blade of the filling knife shown in Fig. 1.

Fig; 6 is an elevational view showing fragmentary portions of a loom, including one embodiment of a loom stop mechanism, and showing diagrammatically one manner in which the filling knife attachment of this invention may be incorporated in the electrical circuit adapted to operate the aforesaid stop mechanism.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the filling knife or thread cutter and'clamp generally designated as 10 is carried by alug 11 extending from a carrier or slide 12 (Fig. 6). The filling knife 10 comprises relatively fixed blades 14- and 15 between which is mounted on pivotal support 1 6- a movable blade generally designated as 17. The edge of the'movable blade 17 which is toward the shuttle eye operates in cooperation with stationary blade 14 to part the spent filling and permit the end leading through the shuttle eye to the bobbin to be ejected to pass backward through the eye and out of the shuttle as the bobbin is ejected. The opposite face portion of the movable blade 17 operates in cooperation with stationary blade 15 to clampthe end of the filling leading to the cloth selvage and hold'it until'the knife is retarded and subsequently opened. The clamping portion of the movable blade 17 is usually of a fibrous or fibroid material whereby the thread or filling may be clamped between this portion and the opposing metal stationary blade, whereas the cutting portion of the movable blade is of metal so that its acts in cooperation with its respective opposing metal stationary blade to provide a shearing action.

The actuating means for the filling knife may be of any type conventional in this art. One such filling knife and the:- actuating means therefor are shown in United States Letters Patent 1,552,388 issued September 1, 1925, to A. E. Stafiord. The carrier or slide operating member 7 has a lower bifurcated end portion 8 for the reception of the pin 9 which extends from the slide 12. The operating member 7 is connected to the shuttle feeler (not shown) so that as the shuttle feeler is moved rearwardly and call's'for replenishment of filling the operating member 7 will move the clamp 10 into its operating position. It will be understood, however, that this invention is generally applicable to any filling knife employing cutting and clamping blades.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of this invention, the movable filling knife blade 17 is made up of a metal shearing portion 18 and a clamping portion of fiber or other material suitable to perform both an insulatin'g and clamping function. This clamping portion may be split into two portions 19 and 20 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The fiber element 20 is grooved or channeled on its inner face, as'shown particularly in Fig. 5, to accommodate an electrical contact element 21. One end 22 of the element 21 extends from the filling knife 10 and is connected by lead 23 to a suitable loom stop mechanism. This portion of the contact element 21 is insulated from the metal parts of the filling knife by the inner fiber element 19 as shown in Fig. 1. The other end 24 of the contact element 21 extends through an opening 25 in fiber element'20, along a groove or channel in the outer face of this element, and terminates at a position 26 approximately midway between the outer and inner extremities of the jaws formed between stationary blade 15 and movable blade 17 of'the knife, as best may be seen in Fig. 3.

It. will be understood that the contact element may be incorporated in the insulating and clamping element in other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the insulating element could be molded or laminated in one piece and the contact element could be embedded therein during the course of such manufacture. It is only necessary that the end 24 of the contact element extend along the clamping face of the knife and contact the metal blade in the manner and to the extent described.

Thus, the end 24 of contact element 21 is so disposed that, in the absence of a thread clamped between blade and fiber element 20, contact is made by the contact element with the metal blade 15, thereby completing an electrical circuit from lead 23 to ground on the loom frame. Lead 23 is connected in a suitable circuit for operating loom stop mechanism. Therefore, the filling knife acts as a simple switch in an electrical circuit including loom stop mechanism. When a thread, designated in the drawings as 29, is properly gripped between elements 15 and as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the circuit including the stop mechanism is incomplete and the 100th continues to operate.

It will be noted that in the embodiment shown the contact element 21 will act to complete the loom stop circuit in all instances in which a thread is absent from the main portion of the clamping jaws. The contact element preferably extends for a short distance rearwardly of the apex of the clamping jaws so that even when the jaws are open the loom-stop circuit is completed. Thus, if for some reason the knife is opened at the wrong portion of the cycle of operations, the loom will stop and warn the operator of trouble. In order that the loom may continue to operate during normal opening of the knife in its cycle of operations, a further switch may be incorporated in the loomstop circuit as described below. It will also be apparent that if a thread is caught too near the end of the knife for safe holding, i. e. between the terminating position 26 of the contact element and the end of the knife, contact is made completing the loom stop circuit.

One manner in which the filling knife may be incorporated as a switch in a loom-stop circuit is illustrated in Fig. 6. In this figure the filling knife is shown in the normal open position just prior to being tripped to cut and clamp a thread 29. The circuit is complete through lead 23 and the contact element of the knife to ground on the loom frame. However, in this instance a switch 30 in the circuit has been opened by the operation of an arm 31 which functions, when in the raised position, to extend the filling knife forward to where it should enter the shuttle and sever the thread on the bobbin being discarded. When the arm 31 is then lowered retarding the filling knife with its clamped thread, the switch 30 closes allowing the filling knife to control the closing of the stop-motion circuit. If the knife is opened at any other time or if the thread is absent at any other time the stop-motion circuit is completed.

If for some reason the knife should fail to catch the thread at the shuttle the circuit would be completed at the knife and when the knife is returned to its retarded position the switch 30 will also close completing the stop motion circuit and stopping the loom. The operator would then be required to place a piece of thread in the knife, after having checked the cloth for any imperfection, before the loom could again be set in motion.

A mechanical knock-off system upon which the electrical stop-motion circuit may operate is further shown in Fig. 6. Thus, the electrical circuit may be traced from switch 30 through lead 32, shunt magnet 33, lead 34, switch 35, and lead 36 to a suitable low voltage source, such as the secondary winding 36a of a transformer (not shown), one side of which may be grounded to the loom frame. Switch 35, which may be a single-pole rotating circuit-making and breaking unit, is operated by movement of a rod 37 known in the industry as a shipper lever rod. The loom is set in motion by pulling shipper lever 38 to the left as shown in Fig. 6, thereby pushing the shipper lever rod 37 to the right and causing it to operate a clutch (not shown) or other means connecting the loom to the source of power. Movement of rod 37 to the right moves adjustable dog 40 and causes the switch arm 41 connected thereto to close the switch 35. Dog 40 also moves a knock-01f dog 42 to the right. The motion of the loom causes a cam 43 to rotate, and the action of this cam on a follower lever 44 and bunter lever 45, integral therewith, causes a hook 46 hanging over dagger 47 to oscillate back and forth. When the loom is running switch 35 is closed, and switch 30 is closed except during the period knife 10 is normaly opened. If for any reason while thel com is running knife 10 fails to properly grip a thread or if it opens at the wrong time, the shunt magnet 33 is energized causing core 48 to be pulled into its coil. This causes a rod 49 to move upwardly raising the dagger 47 into the path of the oscillating hook 46. This in turn, acting through lever 50 and arm 51 carrying knock-off-dog 42, causes the latter to push the shipper lever 38 to the off position thereby stopping the loom. Switch 35 is at the same time opened.

When the core of the magnet is pulled in it also causes a contact element 52 to be raised, thereby completing a circuit from the power source through lead 36, switch 35, shunt magnet 33 and lead 53 to ground 54 without going through the filling knife circuit. Therefore, even though the circuit may again be broken at the knife after a momentary contact, the holding circuit through contact 52 will take over continuing to energize the shunt magnet to thereby stop the loom. The magnet releases the dagger only when switch 35 breaks the circuit as the loom is stopped. Thus, once the stop mechanism is set in motion, regardless of the circumstances taking place thereafter, the loom must be stopped. Should the operator pull the shipper lever to start the loom without first clearing the trouble at the filling knife, the stop mechanism would again operate to stop the loom.

It will be noted that the switch 35 is so installed that it opens the circuit from the power source to ground on the loom frame and thus relieves the shunt magnet of its load when the power is disengaged from the loom proper, or when the shipper lever is in the off position. This protects the magnet from overheating should the loom be off for a considerable period of time. Thus, the system shown in Fig. 6 permits the filling-knife attachment to protect the product in process of manufacture by standing ready to stop the loom when its services are required, and then in so stopping the loom shuts off its own source of power for safety purposes until the operator resets the system by again starting the loom.

It will be appreciated that the invention as described in the foregoing specification is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

In a loom-stop circuit for stopping a power-driven loom upon the failure of the filling knife thereof to properly function, the improvement comprising circuit making and breaking means associated with said filling knife and responsive to the functioning thereof, said means being operable to complete said circuit at the filling knife in the absence of a thread between the gripping members thereof when said knife is closed, and operable to break said circuit upon the presence of a thread therebetween, a second circuit making and breaking means in said circuit, and means responsive to the advancing of said knife toward the shuttle for catching and gripping a thread to break said circuit at said second means, and responsive to the retarding of said knife from such position to make said circuit at said second means, whereby the loom operates during normal functioning of the filling knife and is stopped upon the absence of a thread in said knife or upon the opening of said knife in its retarded position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

